Right-wing Settlers Charged with Attempting to Murder Arabs

Two members of a Jewish right-wing underground movement suspected of planning terror attacks against Palestinians were formally charged with attempted murder this week in Jerusalem District Court.

In addition to the attempted murder charges, brothers Eitan and Yehoyada Kahalani, from the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, were charged Wednesday with conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms.

The brothers were among 13 members of the underground movement who have been detained over the past month on suspicions of planning attacks on Palestinians.

All but four of the group have since been released pending possible trials.

The Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office said it also intends to indict Rabbi Ido Elba, also of Kiryat Arba, on conspiracy charges.

The Jerusalem District Court extended Elba’s detention in custody until next week, to allow more time for preparation of a charge sheet against him.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the brothers’ attorney, Likud Knesset Member David Mena, alleged that Kiryat Arba resident Yves Tibi, one of those detained and since released, was a “mole” planted within the suspected terror group by the General Security Services and had been used in efforts to implicate his clients.